How a Sheffield fanzine writer turned a post-punk electronic act into pop royalty.
In short: Emerging from the 1980s new pop movement, ABC blended synth-pop with disco and rock to create one of the decade's most celebrated debut albums. Fronted by Martin Fry, the band evolved from the electronic group Vice Versa, achieving global success before navigating decades of shifting lineups and artistic reinvention.
ABC formed in Sheffield in 1980, evolving from the electronic band Vice Versa, which had been founded in 1977 by Stephen Singleton and Mark White. Martin Fry, who had interviewed the band for his fanzine Modern Drugs, joined as a synthesizer player before transitioning to lead vocalist. By the time they released their debut album, The Lexicon of Love, in June 1982, the group had solidified a classic lineup featuring Fry, White, Singleton, and drummer David Palmer. Produced by Trevor Horn, the record reached number one on the UK Albums Chart and remains a critical touchstone, later appearing on lists of the greatest British albums.
The band’s trajectory throughout the 1980s was marked by rapid shifts in personnel and sound. Following their debut, they struggled to replicate its massive success. The 1983 follow-up, Beauty Stab, peaked at No. 12, and by the mid-1980s, the lineup had changed significantly. Despite these internal fluctuations, ABC continued to score hits, including the US top 10 single 'Be Near Me' in 1985 and the 1987 track 'When Smokey Sings', which reached number 5 in the US. Fry, the band's only constant member, even steered the group through his own battle with Hodgkin lymphoma during the late 1980s.
In later years, ABC transitioned into a vehicle for Fry’s solo creative vision. After a six-year hiatus, he released the 1997 album Skyscraping, followed by a period of live performances and reissues. A significant comeback occurred in 2016 with The Lexicon of Love II, which reached No. 5 on the UK Albums Chart—the band's highest position since their 1982 debut. This sequel, featuring orchestration by Anne Dudley, demonstrated the band's enduring legacy, as did their 2022 celebration of the original album's 40th anniversary at Sheffield City Hall.
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